World

Hungary won't rule out using veto during EU Council presidency

Published

9 months ago

April 15, 2024

Press Room

Hungary won't rule out using veto during EU Council presidency

Hungary will use its veto power if necessary once it assumes the rotating presidency of the Council of the EU.

The country is scheduled to take over the Council on 1 July, succeeding Belgium.

As presidency holder, Hungary will be in charge of setting the political agenda, moderating talks among member states and representing the institution vis-a-vis the European Parliament and the European Commission.

This prospect has fuelled fears that the country will disregard the role of “honest broker” and abuse the position to stall, block or simply ignore key files that it views unfavourably, such as support for Ukraine and sanctions against Russia.

According to Zoltán Kovács, the government’s international spokesperson, who is coordinating the upcoming presidency, Hungary will not withhold issues from the common agenda but will nevertheless make its voice heard.

“We know what it means to be an honest broker,” Kovács said on Thursday during a briefing with journalists, attended by Euronews.

“We know our role and duties concerning the presidency, but it doesn’t mean that Hungary is not going to speak out for its own position.”

Since Vladimir Putin decided to launch its all-out invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Hungary has outraged its fellow countries by extensively using its veto power to derail collective decisions and extract concessions. This has been the case in the EU ban on Russian oil, the blacklisting of Patriarch Kirill and the €50-billion special fund for Ukraine.

For almost a year, Hungary has maintained a firm veto on a €500-million tranche of military support for Kyiv. The blockage means the other member states cannot ask for reimbursements under the European Peace Facility (EPF).

Other EU Leaders have at times looked visibly frustrated with Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, who has vowed to “occupy Brussels” and “bring change” to the bloc according to his nationalist, hard-right ideology.

Asked if the country would use the veto while holding the Council’s presidency, Kovács suggested it would do so if necessary.

“Until there is a common position, there is no common position,” he said.

A presidency holder single-handedly wielding a veto would spark immediate controversy as they’re expected to abstain in sensitive files that they would otherwise vote against. But Kovács made it clear that in cases where the country has a “strong” stance, it would remain unfazed by the expectations.

“Just because we’re presiding doesn’t mean we will give up our own position,” he said. “Working out the consensus doesn’t mean we give up ours.”

Kovács noted that “respect” for national interests was the “essence” of the European Union and used the recent approval of the New Pact on Migration and Asylum as an example of the bloc disregarding the need for “consensus.”

However, according to the Treaties, migration policy is decided by qualified majority, not unanimity.

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World

Video: South Korea’s Political Instability Deepens With New Impeachment

Published

2 hours ago

December 27, 2024

Press Room

Video: South Korea’s Political Instability Deepens With New Impeachment

Lawmakers from South Korea’s governing party protested on Friday against a vote to impeach the country’s acting president, Han Duck-soo. The motion, which passed 192-0, came less than two weeks after President Yoon Suk Yeol was also ousted by the opposition in the National Assembly.

World

Man on vacation with family goes overboard on Norwegian cruise ship in Bahamas

Published

3 hours ago

December 27, 2024

Press Room

Man on vacation with family goes overboard on Norwegian cruise ship in Bahamas

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The frantic search for a Norwegian Cruise Line passenger who went overboard has been called off.

A spokesperson for the cruise line confirmed to Fox News Digital that the 51-year-old went overboard from Norwegian Cruise Line’s Norwegian Epic late Thursday afternoon.

The incident was first noted at approximately 3 p.m. as Norwegian Epic was sailing from Ocho Rios, Jamaica en route to Great Stirrup Cay in the Bahamas.

The passenger was on the cruise with his family, the spokesperson said. The cruise left from Port Canaveral, Florida on Saturday, Dec. 21 and was a seven-night Western Caribbean voyage.

DISNEY CRUISE LINE NO LONGER ACCEPTING PHOTOCOPIES OF GUEST BIRTH CERTIFICATES

The cruise liner Norwegian Jewel built at the ship yard Meyer in Papenburg, northern Germany, goes down the river Ems. (AP Photo/Joerg Sarbach, File)

The cruise line said that authorities were quickly notified and search and rescue efforts were immediately implemented.

SOCIAL MEDIA USERS GET DRAMATIC AFTER CARNIVAL CRUISE SHIP HITS ICE IN ALASKA: ‘TITANIC MOMENT’

“After an extensive search that was unfortunately unsuccessful, the ship was released by the authorities to continue its voyage,” the spokesperson said.

The Norwegian Epic, which was built in 2010 and refurbished in 2020, has 19 decks. (Norwegian Cruise Line)

Norwegian Cruise Line said the passenger’s loved ones on board were “being attended to and supported during this very challenging situation.”

“Our thoughts and prayers are with his loved ones during this difficult time,” the spokesperson added.

The Norwegian Epic, which was built in 2010 and refurbished in 2020, has 19 decks. It can accommodate 4,070 passengers with double occupancy of its cabins and has 1,724 crew members.

It was not immediately clear what caused the man to go overboard. The man has not been identified.

World

Olive oil, milk and cereals: How did food prices fluctuate in 2024?

Published

4 hours ago

December 27, 2024

Press Room

Olive oil, milk and cereals: How did food prices fluctuate in 2024?

After food prices soared in 2021 and 2022, over five essential food products saw price drops in 2024, including milk and cereals.

In 2024, agricultural prices in the European Union saw a modest decline, falling by 2% compared to 2023.

This price decline followed sharp increases in 2021 and 2022 that occurred due to the COVID-19 pandemic, extreme weather conditions and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Despite a surge in olive oil prices in 2024, the prices of cereals dropped by 15%, eggs by 8%, and vegetables and horticultural products declined by 2%.

The price of pigs and poultry also shrank by 7% and 8%, respectively.

According to Eurostat figures, milk prices decreased in 16 EU countries in 2024.

The sharpest decline was recorded in Finland with a 12% drop in prices, followed by Portugal with 10% and Spain with 8%.

By contrast, the sharpest increase was in Ireland with a 15% rise in prices, followed by Lithuania with 11% and Latvia with 10%.

In terms of production, the cost of seeds and veterinary services rose by 3%.

However, prices for fertilisers and soil improvers plummeted by 18%, food for animals by 11%, and plant protection products and pesticides by 2%.

Commission measures between farmers and buyers

After a year in which farmers have protested regularly, the EU Commission has presented an initiative to ensure they receive fair compensation and are no longer forced to sell products below production costs.

The proposed measures include mandatory written contracts that require buyers to clearly outline key terms such as price, quantity, and delivery timelines, taking into account market conditions and cost fluctuations.

The package also introduces a regulation to enhance enforcement of the Unfair Trading Practices (UTPs) Directive, which was adopted five years ago but remains largely unimplemented.

Video editor • Mert Can Yilmaz